12 Things You Need to Toss and Replace

I ran across this good article on Yahoo! Financially Fit about throwing out old, useless things and I thought I would share it.

As Savvy Spender says: "Now that the holidays are over and the tree’s long gone, are you taking a look around the house looking for new ways to spruce things up a bit?"

"Just tossing out dated products that have lost their overall effectiveness is liberating. Here are some items to consider replacing, per our partnering with the experts at Better Homes & Gardens:"

Pillows
Worn out pillows can mess with your neck, spine, and deprive you of sleep every night. Replace good, quality pillows every 2-3 years, and less expensive synthetic pillows once a year. Want to make them last longer? Buy a pillow protector, says Amy Panos, Senior Editor, Better Homes & Gardens. “For $5 to $20, you can find a great, quality pillow protector at the Company Store.”

Mattress
Your mattress needs to be replaced every 5-10 years. If it’s visibly saggy or lumpy, consider replacing it sooner!

Apparel
When it’s time to clean out your closet, it’s too easy to be conservative and shy away from tossing stuff you haven’t worn in a while. Just do it! Adhere to the two-year rule by getting rid of anything you have not worn in two years.

Bras
Toss bras that are more than a year old because they lose elasticity and support. While bras can be pricey, take advantage of the deals this month: Hanes has a sale that runs through the end of January (bras are under $8-$9) as does Maidenform (It’s running a $15 bra sale.).

Running shoes
Replace them every 300-500 miles. When the back of the sole is noticeably uneven and you can easily bend the sneakers in half, that means they’ve lost the proper support you need. Don’t even walk in them, say the experts.

Makeup brushes
Good, quality makeup brushes need to be replaced every three years. To maintain them, wash them - weekly - with mild dishwasher soap, and lay flat to dry. The best, affordable makeup brushes can be picked up at Target. A Sonia Kashuk set is about $11.

Beauty Products
Mascara needs to be replaced every 3 months; every 6 months, replace lipsticks and cream or liquid foundations; every year, replace powder foundations and sunscreens.

Bath loofahs
Do away with bath loofahs altogether! They’re especially prone to bacterial growth and you have to replace them every 1-2 months. Consider an alternative like light nylon washcloths, which easily lather up and dry - fully - within hours. You can get them on Amazon for about $5.

Spices
Spices, which need to be kept away from your oven and stored in a cool, dry place like your pantry, need to be replaced every year. Just do the sniff test: if there is no aroma, there is no taste.

Cookie sheets and baking pans
Are your cookie sheets and baking pans no longer shiny? Say goodbye! Old pans don’t cook as evenly.

Home Safety Items
Smoke detector batteries and HVAC filters. Replace them every 6 months.

My Aching Knees comment: If you have been counting, there is only 11 items listed above. So I include my own recommendation,.....Cats. It's time to throw out those mangy good for nothing cats. All they do it eat and lay around. Meow, meow, meow,....I can't stand it.  Throw those cats out.

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